Joshua 6:1-14 | The Way of Scripture

Joshua 6:1-14

Why does the march around Jericho emphasize the Lord’s instructions?

Berean Standard Bible

1 Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. 2 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Behold, I have delivered Jericho into your hand, along with its king and its mighty men of valor. 3 March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark. Then on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns. 5 And when there is a long blast of the ram’s horn and you hear its sound, have all the people give a mighty shout. Then the wall of the city will collapse and all your people will charge straight into the city.” 6 So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said, “Take up the ark of the covenant and have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark of the LORD.” 7 And he told the people, “Advance and march around the city, with the armed troops going ahead of the ark of the LORD.” 8 After Joshua had spoken to the people, seven priests carrying seven rams’ horns before the LORD advanced and blew the horns, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. 9 While the horns continued to sound, the armed troops marched ahead of the priests who blew the horns, and the rear guard followed the ark. 10 But Joshua had commanded the people: “Do not give a battle cry or let your voice be heard; do not let one word come out of your mouth until the day I tell you to shout. Then you are to shout!” 11 So he had the ark of the LORD carried around the city, circling it once. And the people returned to the camp and spent the night there. 12 Joshua got up early the next morning, and the priests took the ark of the LORD. 13 And the seven priests carrying seven rams’ horns kept marching ahead of the ark of the LORD and blowing the horns. The armed troops went in front of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the LORD, while the horns kept sounding. 14 So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.

What is the context?

Jericho is closed against Israel. The Lord declares the city given to Joshua, then prescribes the six daily circuits and the seventh day’s seven circuits, with seven priests carrying rams’ horns ahead of the ark.

Joshua transmits the command, and the procession follows the prescribed order. The horns sound, but the people must wait to shout until Joshua tells them. They return to camp after each circuit during the first six days.

The repeated obedience slows the account and directs attention to the announced promise. The city’s fall is not presented as the army discovering a technique for collapsing walls through noise or a number of steps.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley stresses reliance on God’s appointment rather than military skill alone. The USCCB notes read the procession’s horns and shout as the people’s response to the Lord’s appearing and emphasize that victory is His gift. The details belong to this command; they do not establish a general ritual by which readers can force a desired result.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

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